All the different technology certifications out there can make
even a tech-savvy entrepreneur dizzy. According to Gary Clark of
Galton Technologies, a Provo, Utah, firm that helps companies build
certification programs, there are about 200 software and hardware
vendor certification programs today.

But Clark aims to help. Galton Technologies offers a free
publication, Building Certification Programs Planning Guide,
which explains certification programs and what certified employees
learn. Clark advises employers to look for certifications from
established vendors. "Good programs establish a firm
foundation for the jobs they're certifying," he says.
"A certification is more than just a piece of paper. It's
a validation of somebody's ability to work and [provide] IT
solutions."

Ellen Paris is a Washington, DC, writer and former Forbes
magazine staff writer.